Mandevilla plant named ‘Alegnuflor942’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Alegnuflor942’, characterized by its upright and somewhat vining to climbing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; dark red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ALEGNUFLOR942’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Alegnuflor942’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Mandevilla plants with large attractive flowers and are temperature-tolerant and tolerant to pathogens and pests common to Mandevilla plants.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in January, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number X03.2.8, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number X03.2.2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in December, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia since January, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Alegnuflor942’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Alegnuflor942’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat vining to climbing plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Dark red-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are not as strongly vining as         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have burgundy-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have lighter red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevilla hybrida ‘Rio Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Mandevilla differed primarily from plants of ‘Rio Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla were more vigorous than plants         of ‘Rio Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla had slightly smaller flowers         than plants of ‘Rio Red’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Rio Red’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Rio Red’ had lighter red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevilla hybrida ‘Pretty Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Mandevilla differed primarily from plants of ‘Pretty Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla were not as vining as plants of         ‘Pretty Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla had thicker leaves than plants         of ‘Pretty Red’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla had smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Pretty Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the following detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Alegnuflor942’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up views of a typical flowering plants of ‘Alegnuflor942’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in one-gallon containers during the summer and early autumn in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Vista, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 29° C. and night temperatures averaged 21° C. Plants were pinched two times and were 20 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Alegnuflor942’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number X03.2.8, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number X03.2.2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at 25° C. to             30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at 15° C. to             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at 25° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six             weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color becoming creamy white to golden with development.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat vining to             climbing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 44 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 32 cm by 36 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Moderate             branching habit; pinching enhances lateral branch             development; about five primary lateral branches each with             numerous secondary branches. Length: About 34 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous; becoming woody with development. Color: Close to             146B; color becoming closer to 199B with development. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 7.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to oval.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Equilateral to slightly cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B;             venation, close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper             surface: Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged             alternately in axillary clusters similar to racemes; flowers             face horizontally to slightly drooping; freely flowering             habit, about five to seven flowers and flower buds per             cluster and about 40 flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about six to eight weeks after planting;             long flowering period, plants flower continuously from             spring into the autumn in Southern California.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 59C.         -   Cluster height.—About 11.2 cm.         -   Cluster diameter.—About 5.5 cm by 8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Flower depth (length).—About 7.4 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 6 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 5 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement and appearance: Single whorl of five             petals, petals not imbricate; lobes asymmetrical giving a             pinwheel appearance to the flower. Petal lobe length: About             2.7 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.4 cm. Petal lobe shape:             Asymmetrical. Petal apex: Acuminate. Petal margin: Entire.             Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper             surface: Close to 53A. Petal lobe, when opening, lower             surface: Close to 60A. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 53A; towards the apex, darker than 53A;             venation, close to 53A; color does not fade with             development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 53A to 53B; venation, close to 53B. Throat: Close to 26B;             venation, close to 26B. Tube: Close to 53C; towards the             base, close to 145D; base, close to 145B to 145C; venation,             close to 53C.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement and appearance: Five per flower fused in             a single whorl; calyx short funnelform and five-pointed.             Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acute to acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 145C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible.             Aspect: About 35° to 45° from lateral branch axis. Color:             Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.4 cm to 1.7 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible.             Aspect: About 25° to 30° from peduncle axis. Color: Close to             145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color: Close to             NN155A. Anther length: About 1 cm. Anther shape: Lanceolate.             Anther color: Close to 158B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to NN155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.7 cm. Style length:             About 2.2 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Stigma shape:             Rounded; five-lobed. Stigma color: Close to 144C. Ovary             color: Close to 146D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to be somewhat tolerant to mites. Plants of the new     Mandevilla have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and     other pests common to Mandevilla plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, full     sunlight and temperatures from about 5° C. to about 45° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Alegnuflor942’ as illustrated and described. 